How NeuroMovement® Helps Kids with Cerebral Palsy
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you’ve likely heard a wide range of terms: “spasticity,” “delayed milestones,” “high tone,” “low tone,” “intervention,” “therapy.”
You’ve probably been introduced to a team of professionals who offer solutions that are supposed to help. You may even have a treatment plan already in place.
But maybe—just maybe—you’re wondering:
Is there more we could be doing to help my child thrive?
If that question has brought you here, you’re in the right place.
As an Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® Practitioner who specializes in working with children, I’ve seen the profound impact that gentle, brain-based movement can have on kids with cerebral palsy (CP).
This blog will help you understand:
What cerebral palsy is and how it affects development
How NeuroMovement® works
Why this method is different from traditional therapies
Real possibilities for new brain connections and functional improvements
How you can get support—whether you're local to Portland, Oregon or anywhere in the world
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. It’s caused by a brain injury or abnormal brain development—usually before or during birth, or in the early months of life.
There are different types of CP, including:
Spastic – muscles appear stiff or tight
Dyskinetic – uncontrolled, involuntary movements
Ataxic – difficulties with balance and coordination
Mixed – symptoms from more than one type
Because CP originates in the brain, the physical limitations we see—difficulty crawling, walking, reaching, sitting—are actually expressions of the brain’s challenge to organize movement.
This is why a brain-centered approach can make a powerful difference.
How NeuroMovement® Works for Children with CP
The Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® (ABM®NM®) is not a system that tries to force the body into “normal” movement.
Instead, it’s a learning-based approach that taps into your child’s brain as it is right now, helping it learn how to create new patterns and possibilities.
NeuroMovement® uses slow, gentle movements and focused attention to help the brain recognize what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve function in real time.
“We don’t fix the child. We wake up the brain, and the brain does the rest.”
That means instead of trying to stretch a stiff arm or train a gait pattern, we help the brain feel what it’s doing, and discover better ways to move—on its own terms.
Why Gentle Matters: Moving Away from “No Pain, No Gain”
Children with CP often undergo hours of therapy focused on stretching, strengthening, or hitting specific milestones. These approaches, while well-intentioned, can overlook the child’s internal experience.
What happens when we ignore the child’s internal experience?
When a child is uncomfortable, overwhelmed, or fearful, the brain shifts into protection mode. In this mode, it cannot effectively learn or build new pathways.
In contrast, NeuroMovement® prioritizes comfort, ease, and curiosity—because these are the ingredients that make the brain feel safe enough to grow.
Imagine your child being guided through a series of calm, enjoyable movements, discovering new ways to reach, roll, sit, or even speak—not through effort, but through exploration.
That’s the ABM®NM® difference.
Real Outcomes I’ve Seen in My Practice
Every child is unique, and every brain responds differently. But here are just a few of the shifts I’ve seen in children with cerebral palsy who’ve engaged in NeuroMovement® lessons:
Improved head and trunk control
More coordinated arm or leg movement
Reduction in spasticity and rigidity
New vocalizations or clearer communication
Greater comfort and relaxation
More frequent smiles, laughter, and eye contact
And perhaps most important of all—a new sense of agency. Children begin initiating movement on their own, exploring the world in ways they hadn’t before.
What a NeuroMovement® Lesson Looks Like
ABM®NM® lessons are typically done one-on-one, with the child fully clothed, either lying on a soft table, sitting, or in other supported positions.
During a lesson, I use my hands and voice to guide gentle movements and offer subtle variations that invite the brain to take notice.
You might see your child make a new sound, reach for a toy more easily, or simply breathe more freely. You may even notice changes days or weeks later—because the brain continues to process and integrate after the lesson ends.
Can NeuroMovement® Replace Traditional Therapy?
Not necessarily.
In fact, many families use ABM®NM® alongside PT, OT, or speech therapy.
But the difference lies in the how and the why.
Whereas many therapies focus on repetition and outcomes, NeuroMovement® focuses on process, awareness, and potential. It can be the missing piece that helps all other efforts work more effectively.
I often tell families: when the brain learns to learn, everything else becomes more possible.
Want to Learn More or Try a Session?
If you’ve been searching for something beyond rigid programs or one-size-fits-all protocols…
If you believe your child is more than a diagnosis or a list of deficits…
If you're ready to explore a gentler, more respectful way to support your child’s potential…
I would love to connect with you.
📞 Call me today at (971) 266-1911 or book a free discovery call!
Visit www.brilliantmovement.net/contact to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.
Whether in person in Portland, Oregon or virtually from anywhere in the world, let’s see what’s possible for your child, together.
Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® is an Innovative, brain-based intervention to help your child to live their life to the fullest!
Are you looking for in-person (Portland, OR area) or virtual help for you or Your child?
I’m Phoebe MacRae and I’m an Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® Practitioner in Portland Oregon.
I use gentle, respectful, somatic movement to help Children with Disabilities or Developmental Delays to naturally develop new brain connections.
If your child likes it, you’ll find me using my other specialty- MUSIC 🎵- in kids’ sessions. Music has a powerful impact on all parts of the brain and it can facilitate miracles!
Do you have further questions?
Please reach out to talk with me!